SHENANIGAN: The US Commerce Department set final dumping margins on imported photovoltaic products from China, paving the way for the US government to impose vindictive duties on the products, here the other day.
It was the latest US action against Chinese solar products after a similar one in 2011. It is an obvious abuse of trade remedy measures and trade protectionism in disguise, said a statement issued by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products.
Trade protectionism can hurt both countries’ solar industries and Chinese enterprises will take further measures to defend their rights within the legal framework, it said.
China’s Ministry of Commerce has reiterated its calls for the United States to objectively and fairly handles ongoing solar trade disputes, honors its commitment against protectionism and work with China to maintain a free, open and fair trade environment.
The US department made its affirmative final determination that crystalline silicon photovoltaic products from the Chinese mainland and Taiwan had been sold in the US at dumping margins ranging from 26.71 percent to 165.04 percent, and 11.45 percent to 27.55 percent, respectively.
The department determined that producers and exporters of photovoltaic products from Chinese mainland received countervailable subsidies ranging from 27.64 percent to 49.79 percent.